Exploring the Zen meditation experiences of patients with generalized anxiety disorder: a focus-group approach.
The journal of nursing research : JNR March 1, 2012 Chueh-Fen Lu, Lorraine Nancy Smith, Chen-Huei Gau 2 citations
Adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in Taiwan who participated in a Zen meditation program described the practice as a process of struggling to reach calm, noticing signs of improvement, and recognizing it as an individual journey. Improvements included finding a personal way to calm, a changed sense of time, and adjusting meditation goals. The participants' sense of being (dasein) shaped their understanding of the practice. The findings reveal diverse, phenomenon-featuring aspects of Zen meditation that complement quantitative studies and may inform professionals using Zen meditation as an alternative therapy for GAD.